Planting a Garden After Removing a Cedar Hedge: Watch Soil Layers and pH

You removed a large cedar hedge, couldn’t get all roots, and plan to add topsoil on top. You’re concerned about soil acidity.

Key Advice

1. Test pH; target 6.5 for most flowers/vegetables. Amend with lime (raise) or sulfur (lower).
2. Avoid creating distinct layers of unlike soil (topsoil over hard subsoil). This creates a watering nightmare—water moves poorly across the interface.
3. Better: incorporate organic matter into existing soil, or if adding soil, match it to your native soil texture.

Blending is better than layering.